Method of milking



P. A. FRIMAND METHOD OF MILKING Uct. 23, 1923.

Filed July 19 1919 Patented Oct. 23, i923..

PETER A. FRIMAND, OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, SSIGNOR TO THE BURTON PAGE COMPANY,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS. l

METHOD OF MILKING.

Application inea July i9,

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, PETER A. FRIMAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Miami, in the county of Dade and State of Florida, have invented certain new and usetul Improvements in Methods of Milking, of which the following is afspecification.

My invention relates to the operation of milking cows by mechanically produced suction applied to the cows teats intermittently; and the object of the invention is to provide a method of creating and applying the suction impulses controllably, in accordance with the peculiarities ot the particular animal being milked. 4It is well known that some cows are harder to milk than others, requiring more intense vacuum to induce the How of milk. A Others are sensitive and arel annoyed and perhaps injured by too strong a suction or by a suction created too rapidly. The ordinary processes of milking by machinery do not adapt themselves to these individual peculiarities and for that reason are objectionable. The mechanical method to be hereinafter described and claimed permits the intensity of the vacuum applied to the coWs udder, the length of the suction period and the rapidity with which the vacuum reaches its maximum intensity to be varied to suit the individual characteristics. In eiiect, the invention provides a milking operation closely simulating the natural process of milking by hand.

rIhe invention is described but not claimed in my co-pending application tiled October 16, 1915, Serial No. 56,294, and patented August 5, 1919, No. 1,311,959, entitled Milking machine of which this application is a continuation in part.

A suitable apparatus for practicing the method (substantially the same as is shown in my co-pending application) is illustrated in the accompanying drawing. The invention, however, is in no way limited to the use of this particular apparatus. The mechanical milking method, the subject of this application, might be racticed by use ot'k machines very different y constructed from that shown, as will be obvious from the description of the process which follows.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus, and

Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe same.

In the drawing I have shown themilking 1919. Serial No. 311,934.

machine as seated upon and attached to the top of-the ordinary milk can, the machine comprising a pump of which the piston is stationary and the cylinder reciproy cable. these arrangements are purely optional.

In this illustrative construction the` teat cups 10 are connected by tubes 11 to a manifold 12 from which leads a flexiblel tube 13 to a space 14 in a casing 15 supported by uprights 16 upon the base member 17 of the apparatus which fits into the flaring top 18 of a milk can 19, the base being preferably held to the beaded edge 20 of the milk can by means of spring clips 21. Secured to the under side of'casing 15 and communicating with the space v14 is a hollow piston rod 22 to the lower end of which is fixed a piston 23.' This piston cooperates with a reciprocating cylinder 24 having a head 25 provided with handles 26 by means of which the cylinder is operated. The lower head 27 of the cylinder is formed with a milk outlet 28 normally closed by a Weighted valve 29. The upper head 25 is formed with an air escape port 30.

It is important that the stroke of the pump be comparatively long, as has been shown, in order that one may obtain the control and regulation of the suction impulses to be referred to. It is also desirable that a gauge be provided, within sight of the operator, to indica-te the Vacuum developed against the cows udder for the guidance qf the operator. Such vacuum. gauge is indlcated at 31.

The commonest form of milking machine provides for the creation of a constant vacuum and the application of this vacuum intermittently tov the cow by a pulsator. Another form of milking machine used to a ce1'- tain extent, provides for a reciprocating pump opera-ting directly against the cows udder but driven by a motor. In both types of mechanical milking methods exemplified by these machines the suction impulses are uniform. They are not adjusted and varled to meet the requirements of individual animals. In accordance with my method the So far as the method is concerned l pump is operated by hand or otherwise so 7.

in the apparatus here shown, is moved down I at first rapidly so as to develop almost iinmediately a suction et the desired maximum., which, of course, may be varied 1n accordance with peculiarities of the animal being v millred. yllhis induces How ot milk. As soon as this How starts the operator pushes down the movable member of the pump slowly, just sufliciently, in fact, to maintain the vacuum at a substantially uniform intensity. The vacuum is then relieved by the upstroke of the movable member of the pump. This forces the milk from the space between the lixed piston 23 and the lower head 27 of the cylinder, valve 29 opening to allow the milk to discharge into the milk can below.

il claim l. Method of milking by mechanically created suction applied intermittently to the cows teats which consists 'in developing' a vacuum at each pulsation so that it quickly reaches the maximum intensity desired., thencontinuing' the exhausting operation just sutliciently to maintain the intensity of the vacuum substantially constant for a time, and then relieving the vacuum so that the @owls teats are subject to atmospheric pressure and discharging the millr accumulated in the vacuum space.

2. Method of milkingI by mechanically created suction applied intermittently to the teat which consists in maintaining the vacuum created at each suction period at a milking intensity substantially constant or a considerable portion of the period and then relieving the vacuum to'give a period ci rest at substantially atmospheric pressure before the next suction period.

3. Method of operating` a milking machine of the intermittent suction type in which the suction pulsations are produced by action oli a reciprocating pump, which consists in operatingf the pump at each suction period to lirst develop quickly a milking vacuum on the teat of maximum intensity, then maintain said vacuum at substantially constant intensity for the major portion of the suction period and thereafter relieve the vacuum so as to give a period oit' rest at substantially atmospheric pressure between each suction period.

PETER A. FRlMAND. 

